The Australian Rugby Union announced Samsung as the new official mobile and tablet partner of the Qantas Wallabies, the men's national rugby union team. The partnership includes all consumer electronic devices across the Qantas Wallabies and Super Rugby competition until the end of '15 (ARU). ... The Sauber F1 Team "has extended its premium partnership with Swiss watchmaker Certina for the upcoming '13 season." The Certina logo "will be visible on the wind deflectors of the cars as well as on the helmet visors of the two drivers," Nico Hülkenberg and Esteban Gutierrez (BLICK, 1/14). ... Digital billboard replacement technology firm Supponor has signed a two-year deal with sports marketing agency Pitch International. Supponor's technology will be used at int'l football events including Brazil Int'l friendlies leading up to the 2014 World Cup, England int'l matches and FA Cup matches (Pitch). ... The ATP has signed a five-year deal to make equipment manufacturer Tecnifibre an official partner of the ATP Tour (ATP). ... The FIS-Team-Tour 2013 ski jumping competition has agreed to a new title sponsorship deal with Germany-based independent energy price search engine verivox.de. The deal includes an extensive advertisement package with ads on the wall behind the start, at the exit gate and during the winner's ceremony. The verivox.de FIS-Team-Tour will take place Feb. 8-17 in Germany. The deal was brokered by sports marketing company SPORTFIVE (FIS-Team-Tour). ... South African No. 1 squash player Steven Coppinger agreed to a new partnership with U.K. squash brand Mantis (Mantis).
NOTES ON THE FAIRWAY: Germany-based construction supply company Schüco "has ended its sponsorship of German golfer Martin Kaymer." In addition, Schüco "did not extend its brand ambassador deals" with golfers Bernhard Langer, Bubba Watson, Colin Montgomerie, Edoardo Molinari, Liang Wenchong, Maximilian Kieffer and Anders Hansen on Jan. 1. Its deals with Dustin Johnson, Miguel Angel Jimenez, Geoff Ogilvy, Ian Poulter, Henrik Stenson and Alvaro Quiros "run through the end of the year" (GOLF MAGAZIN, 1/9). ... Callaway Golf Company has signed Japanese golfer Ryo Ishikawa to a multi-year contract (Callaway).
